Stringed musical instrument.



No. 687,097. Patented Nov. l9, I901. T. WOLFRAM.

STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

(Application filed Mar. 23, 1901.)

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ATTORNEYS NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE VVOLFRAM, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 687,097, dated November 19, 1901.

Application filed March 23, 1901. Serial No. 52,547. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEODORE WOLFRAM, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented a new and Improved Stringed Musical lnstrument,of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide certain new and useful improvements in guitars, mandolins, and similar stringed musical instruments whereby the instrument is rendered very sensitive to the touch of the player and the tone is improved both in quality and volume.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations of the same, as will be fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the views.

Figure 1 is an inverted plan view of the body of the guitar With the back removed, and Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same on the line 2 2 in Fig. 1.

On the under side of the top of the face A of the body of the instrument is secured a rim B, spaced from the adjacent lining O,arranged on the side of the body D next to the face A, as is plainly indicated in the drawings, said side also having a suitable lining E near the lower end of the side adjacent to the back of the instrument. The rim B follows the con tour of the side D and its lining O and is uniformly spaced therefrom, so as to form a space between the rim and the lining,as willbe readily seen by. reference to the drawings. Transverse braces F are secured to the under side of the top A and extend between the sides of the rim B to terminate in the rim and leave the space between the rim, the lining, and the side completely free.

By the arrangement described the vibratory rim B and the braces F strengthen the top or face A of the body and bring the same in a condition similar to a strained drum-head,

the space between the rim B, the side D, and the lining 0 being completely free to greatly increase the vibrations when the instrument is played, for increasing the volume as well as improving the quality of the tone, and at the same time rendering the instrument exceedingly sensitive to the touch of the performer.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent-- 1. A stringed musical instrument having a body, a lining extending from the sides of the body adjacent to the top, and a vibratory rim on the under side of the top of said body, the rim being spaced from said lining, as set forth.

2. A stringed musical instrument having a body, a lining extending from the side of the body adjacent to the back, a lining extending from the side of the body adjacent to the top, a rim secured on the under side of the top of the body and spaced from the latter lining, and means for bracing the said rim, as set forth.

3. A stringed musical instrument having a body, a vibratory rim on the under side of the top of said body, the rim extending a uniform distance from the side of the body, to leave a space between the rim and the side, and braces extending from one side of the rim to the other and engaging the under side of the top of the body, as set forth.

4. A stringed musical instrument having a body with a lining extending from the sides of the body adjacent to the top of the body, a rim secured on the underside of the top of the body and uniformly spaced from said lining thereof, and transverse braces secured on the under side of the top of the body, and connected at their ends with the sides of the rim, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THEODORE W OLFRAM.

Witnesses:

J. D. KARNS, WM. H. 

